Who cares if it is traditional as long as it is damn good.
Besides, If you really want to be a stickler about only playing traditional instruments, you would have to cut out just about everything but fiddles and bagpipes, and who would want to do that?
If mandolin counts as a traditional melody instrument then I'd say all the rest of its nearer family do by extension, including the Irish bouzouki. Though I can't actually recall at present any session or album track where I have heard it as an up-front melody-playing instrument, as opposed to a backing one.
I like it when a normally accompanying string instrument is used for melody playing.
The Bouzouki sounds terrific as a melody instrument. As a piper, I really like the contrast of timbres between my chosen instrument, the banjo, and the bouzouki.
The problem you're going to encounter is not objections from traditionalists like me (well, most of us, anyway), but VOLUME. The bouzouki is designed for beautiful tonal qualities, middling volume, and little to no sustain. Some bouzoukis have the most gorgeous combinations of crystalline and woody tones with a bit of buzziness, and as such are ideally suited as solo melody instruments or small ensemble acompaniment.
You'll have trouble being heard in noisy environments if you play only single note melodic lines without electronic enhancement of some kind. In such instances it would probably be best to resort to the tenor banjo for melody playing or just playing chordal accompaniments on the bouzouki.
Agreed on Planxty's version of Quaker, it's damn fine bz playing. That was the second jig I mastered on mando because of that version. That's the thing about bz and octave mandolin that makes me sad, the lack of volume. I've consider picking one up but since I'm getting into sessioning I may be better off with a banjo. I love banjo too, but there's just something about the tone of the bz.
thank you for all the examples! I am very pleased to hear youre thoughts, I asked this because I was considering that or fiddle, I am leaning towards fiddle at the moment because I might be able get a free one and I might prefer the sound but thanks Again!
Bouzouki Melody, Traditional?
Bouzouki Melody, Traditional?
I would like to here how much you guys accept GOOD melody on bouzouki. I know we have all heard the begginers but I mean damn good melody.
Thanks
# Posted on October 8th 2009 by swaz12
Re: Bouzouki Melody, Traditional?
Who cares if it is traditional as long as it is damn good.
Besides, If you really want to be a stickler about only playing traditional instruments, you would have to cut out just about everything but fiddles and bagpipes, and who would want to do that?
# Posted on October 8th 2009 by Nopstavon
Re: Bouzouki Melody, Traditional?
I really like those old Nana Mouskouri records - some pretty nifty bouzouki work on those!!
# Posted on October 8th 2009 by Dennis Regan
Re: Bouzouki Melody, Traditional?
If mandolin counts as a traditional melody instrument then I'd say all the rest of its nearer family do by extension, including the Irish bouzouki. Though I can't actually recall at present any session or album track where I have heard it as an up-front melody-playing instrument, as opposed to a backing one.
# Posted on October 8th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Bouzouki Melody, Traditional?
I like it when a normally accompanying string instrument is used for melody playing.
The Bouzouki sounds terrific as a melody instrument. As a piper, I really like the contrast of timbres between my chosen instrument, the banjo, and the bouzouki.
The problem you're going to encounter is not objections from traditionalists like me (well, most of us, anyway), but VOLUME. The bouzouki is designed for beautiful tonal qualities, middling volume, and little to no sustain. Some bouzoukis have the most gorgeous combinations of crystalline and woody tones with a bit of buzziness, and as such are ideally suited as solo melody instruments or small ensemble acompaniment.
You'll have trouble being heard in noisy environments if you play only single note melodic lines without electronic enhancement of some kind. In such instances it would probably be best to resort to the tenor banjo for melody playing or just playing chordal accompaniments on the bouzouki.
# Posted on October 8th 2009 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: Bouzouki Melody, Traditional?
Album tracks - several Planxty tracks come to mind - an Phis Fliuch, Merrily Kissed the Quaker, for a start.
And duelling bouzoukis here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgzBGeCAO1U
# Posted on October 8th 2009 by grego
Re: Bouzouki Melody, Traditional?
Agreed on Planxty's version of Quaker, it's damn fine bz playing. That was the second jig I mastered on mando because of that version. That's the thing about bz and octave mandolin that makes me sad, the lack of volume. I've consider picking one up but since I'm getting into sessioning I may be better off with a banjo. I love banjo too, but there's just something about the tone of the bz.
# Posted on October 8th 2009 by Jimmy B
Re: Bouzouki Melody, Traditional?
The Dance of The Honeybees (Ciarán Curran) on Altan's 'Blackwater' http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/4
More duelling bouzoukis (Alec Finn and Charlie Piggott):
The Blackbird on De Danann's debut album http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/82
# Posted on October 8th 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Bouzouki Melody, Traditional?
Here is bouzouki melody playing in all it's glory - fingerstyle too
Sobol on a Sobell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0hHBGbRajw&feature=related
Avi
# Posted on October 8th 2009 by improziv
Re: Bouzouki Melody, Traditional?
thank you for all the examples! I am very pleased to hear youre thoughts, I asked this because I was considering that or fiddle, I am leaning towards fiddle at the moment because I might be able get a free one and I might prefer the sound but thanks Again!
# Posted on October 11th 2009 by swaz12